Welcome back to Sunday Stills! I took a weekend break over the July 4th holiday, but I managed to publish two posts between July 2 and 7…whaaatt? I do like my once a week blogging schedule, but I enjoy mixing it up a little now and then, so thanks for reading.
Most of you know I love all types of pine trees, and finally moved to Eastern Washington last December where I am surrounded by Ponderosa pines. Having spent most of my childhood in San Diego surrounded by palm trees (which I love, by the way), my preference for pines was undoubtedly influenced by our two-year stay in Portland, Oregon. We lived on the corner of this Beaverton suburb and you can see the gorgeous view of the Sugar Pines (taken recently while there for a family memorial service).
While we were in the Beaverton area, we stayed in a lovely AirB&B and I discovered a wonderful suburban trail….
…That led to this pocket forest.
How wonderful to find a surprise forest in this neighborhood!
“Between every two pines is a doorway to a new world.”
John Muir
Tree images are shared for Johnbo’s Cellpic Sunday and Becky B’s July Tree Squares.
I am still inviting links to Marsha’s Writers’ Quotes Wednesdays Writer’s Challenge while she is out and about exploring trees! Please link to THIS POST until next Tuesday–your choice of theme.
“But Don’t the Trees Seem Nice and Full?”
You may have read last Friday’s Bird weekly post where I shared our neighborhood eagle “Journey,” and my former home’s sweet hummingbirds. Journey, the young eagle is still being monitored at the Birds of Prey Northwest facility in nearby Couer d’Alene, Idaho, and is progressing nicely. He is housed with another adult eagle who can mentor him until he is ready to be released. The temps are still very hot, in fact record breaking for this area and time of year, so he will stay at the facility a while longer. The parents are still visiting and maintaining the nest which is a really good sign.
Partially inspired by Lisa’s Bird Weekly (common birds found in your neighborhood), I have three species of birds that can be found over and under the trees.
R-rr-rr–Raven
On my morning walks with my dogs, I take a tree-lined path off the main road. A huge family of ravens inhabit the area and seem rather tame. They are certainly not bothered by my presence even when I creep toward one to take a pic! Of course one will scold me for getting too close! Now that I know the heat caused many young birds to fledge early, perhaps they were keeping track of the fledglings (none that I saw).
Local Raven 
Raven Scolds Intruders!
High Above the Trees
Birds of prey abound here in Eastern Washington and especially in our rural area of Nine Mile Falls, 20 miles north of Spokane. On any given day one can look up…way up, and see a variety of birds circling. The best times to see them are early mornings and twilight as they search for food.
Hoping to see more eagles, I was surprised to see this particular bird, the Turkey Vulture, also seen in California, circling the skies here. They soar over 300 feet up but I got this shot with my Lumix!
Another busy bird around these parts is the Western Osprey, a member of the hawk family. Lately a family of three soars the morning and evening skies, often heading back and forth between the forest and the nearby Spokane River (Long Lake). The osprey has distinctive face marking, like a black mask across its eyes. A really stunning bird and fun to capture in flight with my Lumix.
I’m always a little worried that these huge birds might see my little dog Aero as a tasty treat, but luckily, the Osprey prefers fish while the Turkey Vulture feasts on carrion.
So what does my heading have to do with this section? Let me explain:
The quote in the heading was inspired by an old Andy Griffith TV show from the 60s starring Andy Griffith as the Mayberry, North Carolina sheriff and Ron Howard as his son Opie Taylor.
In the 1963 episode “Opie the Birdman,” Opie accidentally kills a mother bird, then he becomes a foster parent to its three orphaned nestlings and hand-raises them, naming them Winkin, Blinken and Nod. After successfully releasing the birds, Opie sadly remarks, “The cage sure looks awful empty, don’t it, Pa?
Andy Taylor replies, “Yes son, it sure does… but don’t the trees seem nice and full?”
Awwww….I love that reply and the whole episode! And isn’t that how it should be with our birds?
Join me for Sunday Stills the rest of the month:
- July 18 Monthly Color Challenge: Evergreen (yes, more trees if you wish)
- July 25 Geometric–think triangles, lines, squares, etc
Great Outdoors Bloggers links
Sunday Stills is a wonderful community of bloggers and photographers who desire to connect with one another. With 32 link-ups, you ‘all seem to love the great outdoors! Previously shared on last Wednesday’s Writers Quotes Wednesday, in case you missed the list.
- Always Write
- And Miles to Go Before I Sleep
- Artistic Pension
- Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
- Cee’s Photo Challenges
- Deb’s World
- Denyse Whelan Blogs
- Easin’ Along Image shared in comments
- Equipoise Life
- Frost on the Moose Dung
- Graham’s Island
- NEW Green Dreams (Maria is back with a new blog!)
- Heaven’s Sunshine
- Hugh’s Views and News Image in Comments
- Jacquie Biggar Author
- JP The Wide-Eyed Wanderer
- Kamerapromenader
- Light Write Life
- Loving Life
- Natalie the Explorer
- Now at Home
- Once Upon a Time and Happily Ever After
- One Million Photographs
- Photos By Jez
- Picture This
- Retirementally Challenged
- Retirement Reflections Shared in Instagram
- The Day After
- The Platinum Line Blog
- Stevie Turner
- Travel with Me
- Woolley Muses
Have a wonderful week!
© 2021 Copyright—All rights reserved—secondwindleisure.com
Second Wind Leisure Perspectives 
What is YOUR perspective? Please include your name if WP identifies you as “anonymous.